Apparatus for the fabrication of concrete-construction elements



sept. 1s, 1923.

f E. V. PREUSS APPARATUS FOR THE FABRICATION OF CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS 2 sheets-sheet 1 l Filed July ll. 1922 'Illul 48 wuggmlrzzalw L@ l EMILE' vrcronrizjrinss, or1` "einLLn, nnen BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

'-arrii'nerns" nourrie' f @emitieron or eoNonnr-oou'srnuorounrniannrs.

Be it knowvnfthat I, EirrLnVroroa Preuss',

a subjecty ot the' King ol Belgium, residing at Txelle, nea-r1 Brussels-5` Belgium, have' inivented certain new andf'uselzul Improvements in= `App'aratusfor the `Fabrication oii Concrete-Construction Elements, of ufhioh the follow is a.specification'. i

llhis; invention' relatesy tovapparatus@ for concrete? building elements, and itV comprises an i'inonovedifconstruction aoco-rd;L irl-gto Wlri'clra single, specially-constructed. meldr and' a' enactingplunger or rara are utilized tonsimultaneously forni 'a vplurali@v7` ofablocltsrer. the'lile.l Y i 'llhe mold isjpreferaloly` arranged Within a. fra-me: or casingeinbodyin'gz righ` vrelatedr side,front and bottom ivallsand a rear Wall which is pivotally or. hingedly related to the botto'nrw-all so asitorocl-Qr saving'.y about` its loWeredge. Thefrontwall ot this-traine lia-s3; its lower por-tioncut away".` or the greater partof its length to .forn'iiahoi-zfonl tal openingeand thegmold proper is adapt edV to. s-lidei bodily, dravvenfashion, t-hrouglr this ope'ni-negr`A Vi'nto land" out ofthe, fname iin.- provedv Y meansV being,V provided whereby the.

Ymovable rear Wall; oli the fnamezan'dfthefrnold.

may be locked. against outwardt movement.`

Wlaenf the mold occupies; itsoperative posie,

tion Wit-hinV the. frame; Y :The .meansti-n ques:- tion .may advantageously- `,comprise` rods; which connect. the front andV5 rear Walls-of the frame and Whichlmve springs, associated with them, the springs having a7 tendency.-

vto shift the rods andthe movable Wallina.

rearward direction6 -The forwardA ends ofi the, rods project loosely through the iront Wall and are equipped vvitli cam devices Whiehare.y adapted to rideI over a- -inernber on the front Walliofthe mold, thereby loro` ing theV rods to move forwardly, carrying the movable Wall with them.- The rear` endy of the mold abut-siagainst. the movabley rear Wall, andthe engagementofthecams with the front Wall of-,tlre mold serves .toi retainV the parts in fixed position. 4.

The invention resideszin theimprovements above statedyanditvalso resides inthe provision oit filling pieces which are supportedat their uppfl endsfupony the` upper edges ojt the side Wallsiof theJ-rfaine and.Whichfbearr uponthe upper edgesof the side Walls ofthe,

Inold, the inner.A sides: of: thei'filling pieces.`

forming continua-tions oit those of the mold. sides'. r'hese filling pieces:v are. removed with rppneanbnlisafxuiy r1; 192e. sensi no. :5741,241.

the molded elements by inverting the apparat'us-y upon the ground or upon the `floor ol the Work-room. A

The invention further contemplates the provision ofiiinpr'ovcd devices for guiding the drawer mold during its sliding 1no`ve`- ments into and` out of trame; and for that purpose, the front Wall of the fra-ine is ionmedwvith a series-lot vertical slitswhich extend upward from the upper edge of theA previouslyementi'oned opening'` and -which eorrespondin number and location to; 'the side Walls 4and the lpartit-ion Walls of the mold, the sa-idrwalfls projecting upnf'ardly into theslits. The partition Walls, however,

terminatesome distance short/of theftop of the-traine;` and because of that fact the;Y will not extend completely through the mass of concreteniateria-l to be molded, in consequenceV whereof the upper4 portion of the molded massl Will ynotV besevered completely through. To overcome that objection, the plunger or ranrused4 with the ap )jaratus is providedon its under face with depending cuttingribs- Whichare arranged immediately above. and in` line Withthe partition walls, so that at the' end of the' compression stroke of the plunger,fk these. cutting ribs and the4 partitions will meet, thereby insuring: the complete separation of'- the several building elem-entsf-roin one another.

Other 'andI further improvements and ad.- vantages are comprisedin the, invention and will` become apparentes the descriptionprd ceeds.

An ernbodiment'of` the invention. is illustrated-by way of example in the accompanying. drawings, in` which Fig-.ure l is a' front elevation of thefraine or the apparatus;v

i Fig. 2 isa.,plan-vieufthereof.

Fig.. 3 is a longitudinal verticalsection ofthe mold proper taken on line 3 3, Fig.

Fig. d isla liront view of the mold.

Fig. 5 is a plan4 View` thereof.

Fig.` 6 is a verticalcross-section on line 6:-f6, Fig. 2, showing: the mold Within the. frame., the `movable rear wall of, thev frame` being open.

Fig/.7 is aV fragnie'ntarj/LendY view of the` traine, showing the movablewall closed. o

Fig. S- is Var longitudinal. vertical section on lineS-S. of Fig` p Fig.. 9 is aT detail crossvsectiion on line 9--9, Fig.. 8.

Fig@ l0. is a. front view` of the. complete.

apparatus, with the guide in place in the frame.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the `uide taken on line 11,-11,V Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the guide. *ig.13 is an end viewv of the guide. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus therein illustrated com prises, as previously stated, two main ele-v ments, viz: a. rectangular frame or casing, and a mold proper removably fitting in the frame and providing the moldV cavities or compartments; and, in conjunction with said elements, a removable ram or plunger.

The frame or casing comprises side walls 13, fixed andmovable front and rear walls, 14 and 19,and a bottom'orrbase plate 20; the parts 13, 14 and 20 being suitably connected together The wall 11i has its lower portion cut away between its ends for the greater' part of its length, as shown in Fig. 1, to form an open space immediately above i the bottom plate or wall 20; and said wall 14 is provided at suitable intervals with parallel vertical slits 15 which extend upward from the upper edge of suchcut-away part or opening. The front and rear walls 14 and 19 are directly connected together by means of a pair of cross-rods 22 (Fig. 7) which are rigidly fastened at their rear ends to the end portions of wall 19 and project loosely attheir front ends through the end portionslof wall 111, their projecting portions carrying cam' latches 25 for a purpose presently stated. These rods are normally thrust in a rearward direction by the action of springs 23V which bear at one end against the fixed front wall 11i andat the other end against collars 24 fastened on the rods; the

' result being that the movable rear wall 19,

which is hingedly or pivotally supported on the base 2O byv means of springs 21 (Fig. 6), is caused to normally assume the out-V wardly-inclined position represented in Fig. 6. The latches 25 areemployed to effect the forward movement of said rods and, consequently, the movement of wall 19 into closed position, as hereinafter described, when the mold proper is in place in the frame.

rThe aforesaid mold, as shown inl Figs. 3, 4t and 5, comprises vertical side or end walls 17, a series of intermediate vertical walls or partitions 16 and a Vbottom wall 13, all bolted or otherwise fastened together. The walls 17 and 16 correspond in Vnumber and position to the slits 15 in the fixed front wall 141 of the frame, and are disposed in exact alinement therewith so as to permit'the mold to be moved bodily outward and inward of the frame in drawer-fashion;V the lower edges ofthe said walls resting slidably upon thebottom frame wall 20 and terminating some distance below the mold bottom 18 (Figs. 3, and 8). The mold cavities or compartments formed by the spacing of the partitions 16 from one another and from the vwalls 1`7-have open rear ends which are adapted to be closed by the movable rear frame wall 19; the latter being provided at f its inner facewith recesses or depression 31 to :receiveV projections 30 on the rearends of the partitions 16. The front ends of the compartments are closed by the front wall 66 of the mold, and to the outer face of this wall 66 thereis secured a horizontalbar 26, the ends of which project beyond the endsv of saidl wall forcooperation with the latches 25; the arrangement being such that when said latches are swung downwardly into engagement 'with the 4outer faces of the bar ends, the cam-shaped inner faces `of the latches, in riding across the bar ends will produce a forward movement of rods 22 and,

hence, an inward movementV of wall 19, so

that the'parts will thus be locked in closed or operative position. When the latchesl are swung back into their normal raised position, out of engagement with the bar, the springs 23, which were compressed by the previous locking operation, will be free to expand, forcing rods 22 backward and opening wall 19. The mold can then be moved outward and the molded blocks or other building elements removed from Vits compartments. Y A

To facilitate manipulation of the mold, it may be provided with suitable handles 27 which, in the construction illustrated, are fastened to bar 26; and to prevent complete Vwithdrawal of themold from the casing, co-

acting stops 28 and 29 can beY employed, the stops 28 being fastenedto the under face of the mold bottom 18, adjacent the rear edge thereof, andthe stops 29 being fastenedupon the upper face of theframe bottom 20 at the front ,thereof,"(Figs` 5, 6 and 10).

In addition to the parts above described,

a pair of removable side pieces or llers Vtinuations of those of said walls 17,Y as will These parts 32 areV disengaged be seen. whenthe mold is drawii outwardly of the frame. Y

The guide 36 is of rectangular, skeleton construction, and isadapted to'rest upon the top of the frame.v Itis likewise of angle' section, and Vits outwardly-extending supporting wings or `flanges carry pins 37 (Figs. 8, 10 and 11) for removable engage-- ment in alining holes or sockets 38 (Fig. 2) formed in the flanged tops of the frame Walls 13 and V,in the horizontal supporting lil() iria (ing-8).

wings or anges of the filling Vpieces 32 maintaining the guide-n material into the mold?, comprisesa block or body 33 cfa` size andlshapeV to lit/easily within the guide 86 (see Fig; 8), and: isprovided upon Vits under .tace with transverse cutting ribs or knivesh llt will be observed that the partitions liin the-mold ter-V minate soine distance shorto the top' of the frame, so that `under ordinary conditions. 'the tendency would be t-o Jform a single molded article only partially separated orV severed into its several component parts.v

Bv )roviding these ribs or knivesV however and` arranging them exactly below andin line with the said partitions, the latter and lhile` in the above description reference has been made to the use of partitions 16 in .the mold to divide the latter `into a plurality of compartments, itis to be understood thatV the partitions may be omitted if it is desired.

to mold a single large block vor similar building element at a time, rather than several blocks of smaller size. ln such event, the slits 15 in the Vfixed front wall V14 of the frame will likewise be omitted.

The operation of the invention is believed to be apparent from-,the foregoing and, hence, to require no separate or additional explanation.

. I claim as my invention l. Apparatus for making concrete building elements, comprising an open-topped frame embodyingrigidly connected side, front and bottom walls, and a rear wall hingedly related to the bottom wall to swing about'its lower edge, said front wall having a horizontalopening; and a mold embodying connected side, bottom and front walls and open at its rear,.said mold 'movable bodily inwardly and outwardly of the frame throughsaid opening, drawer-fashion, and adapted to abut at its open rear end against the rear wall of the frame when inV closedposition.

' 2. Apparatus for making concretebuilding elements, comprising.V an open-topped trame embodying connected side, Jfront, rearand bottom walls, the front wallrliaving a horizontal opening and vertical slits extending upwardly from the upper edge ot said SpringsV 39 (Figs. lO-l) may also be attached tothe side {flanges-or wings or" vthe guide to `catch overthe frame and i thus assist in place. v

. v thereby.' The ram or plunger used to compress thei opening; and` a mold slidablel bodily, drawer-fashion, inwardly and outwardly ot the frame through saidopening and embodying vertical side walls which project upwardly into said slits to be guided v3. Apparatus for making concrete building elements, comprising an open-topped frame embodying rigidly connected side,

liront and bottom walls, and a rear wall hiiigedly related to the-bottom wall to swing about its lower edge, said front wall having a horizontal opening and vertical slits eX- tending upwardlyrfroni the upper edge of said opening; and a mold slidable bodily, drawer-fashion, inwardly and outwardly of the frame-through said opening and einb'odying vertical side walls which project upwardly int-o said slits to be guide-d therell. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the sliding drawer mold has a iront wall but is open at its rear end, Vand is` adapted to abut at said end against the rear frame wall when in closed position so that said frame wall will close the mold.

5. Apparatus for niakingrcoiicrete building elements, comprising an open-topped trame embodying connected side, front, rear and bottom walls, the iront wall having a horizontal opening and a series oi vertical slits extending upwardly from the upper edge of said opening; and a mold slidable bodily, drawer-fashion, inwardly and outwardly of the trame through said opening; said mold embodying vertical side walls and one or more vertical partition walls disposed vbetween and in spaced, parallel relation to Vframe through said opening; and means for locking said movable wall andthe mold in closed position.

7. Apparatus for making concrete building elements, comprising an open-topped trame embodying stationary side, front and bottom walls, and a rear wall movably related thereto, the front wall being formed with a horizontal opening; connecting members between the front and rear walls having springs associated with them for normally rocking` the rear wall outward of the traine;

a mold slidable bodily, drawer-fashion',v inwardly and outwardly oi the frame through said opening; and looking means Carried by said connecting members i'or engagement With'the mold when the latter isin elosed position, to hold said mold and said movable wall against outward movement. Y

8. Apparatus for ,making concrete, build-V said Connectingl members for engagement 1 p *1 z with the mold when the latter is in closed position, to force said movable Wall into closed position and to loel the same and-tho mold against outward movement.

9. Apparatus for making concrete building elements, comprising` an open-topped frame having a horizontal opening` in its front Wall; a mold slidable bodily, drawer- 'ashion, inwardly of the mold, through said opening1 and including vertiealrside Walls which are spaced from the side Walls of the frame; and removable fillingV piesgsup-V ported upoii'the upper edges of the side Walls of 'the frame andbearing upon the upper edges of the side Walls of the mold, the inner 'taeesof said filling pieeeseonstituting continuations of those oi' .theisaid frame sides.V

l0.v Apparatus for making Concrete building Y elements, comprising an open-topped trame; a removable mold thereinY embody-Y ing 'ene or more vertical 4partitions dividing' the interior of the moldv into compartments and terininatine' short of the toa of the frame; and a plunger for compressing the concrete in said compartments, movable into provided upon its under tace with one or more cuttingV ribs disposed immediately the frame through the open top thereof and Y aboveandin line with said partitions soV as to Contact with the latter atfthe end of the inward movement ofl the plunger and thereby sever the molded material Completely through. Y 1

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. EMILE VICTOR PREUSS. Witnesses: Y Y i LEONARD Lavor., PAUL VANDER HOUGHEN 

